At Highland Meadows Country Club, the late afternoon saw LPGA Tour players fiercely contending for the top spot at the Dana Open.
By day’s end, it was Hye-Jin Choi from the Republic of Korea who emerged victorious, carding a 7-under 64.
This marks just the second first-round lead of Choi’s LPGA Tour career, her first since the 2022 Dana Open, where she eventually placed T24.
With a birdie on her final hole, Choi leapt ahead of Olympians Aditi Ashok and Xiyu Lin, both finishing at 6-under.
“It was really great day. I started a little weird, like my shot was not really great, so I try just to make the par,” Choi remarked, having started with seven consecutive pars.
“Try that until 7, and then I make the birdie on 8, so I think, oh, I can do very better.”
Choi’s game indeed improved, stringing together four consecutive birdies on holes 17, 18, 1, and 2.
She added another on the fifth hole and concluded with birdies on the eighth and ninth, her final shot sticking within 10 feet and sinking the birdie putt.
Choi’s bogey-free round, a rare feat at Highland Meadows, was one of only four recorded that day.
“I like it here, but this course, I feel not really easy this course,” Choi said, participating in her third Dana Open and having finished in the top 25 in her previous two appearances.
“It’s really tough course because green is a little bit hilly, and then the rough is really thick.
So I thought it’s really important for (good course) condition or something. Today was good.”
In the same group, Ashok and Lin fought hard for the leaderboard’s pinnacle, both posting first-round 65s to initially hold the clubhouse lead.
However, Choi’s late surge placed them in a tie for second. Both players are set to compete in their third Olympic Games next month, representing India and the People’s Republic of China, respectively.
South Africa’s Paula Reto, who led after the morning wave with a 5-under 66, is tied for fourth with Thai players Natthakritta Vongtaveelap and Chanettee Wannasaen.
Ohio natives Allie White and Stacy Lewis both delivered solid performances, each shooting 4-under 67s, joined by defending champion Linn Grant.
White, an LPGA Teaching and Club Professional, earned her spot in the Dana Open by winning the 2023 LPGA Teaching Professionals National Championship.
The Lancaster, Ohio native, in her third start at this event, thrilled the crowd with a 60-foot eagle putt on the par-5 17th hole.
Aiming simply to make the cut, White finds herself tied for seventh along with seven other players.
